In addition to the centrally purchased e-books for FE collection, FE colleges will be able to purchase individual titles through the e-Select Top 100 Collection. The top 100 highest-ranking books will be available via the e-Select Top 100 Collection and listed on the JISC collections website. The e-books submitted for inclusion in the e-Select Top 100 Collection will be evaluated through an online consultation under the following criteria; relevance to qualifications taken in FE, and demonstrable discounts for FE colleges.
Pricing for titles is offered under unlimited, simultaneous user access, meaning that an unlimited number of users can use the same title as the same time, ideal when teaching in a classroom situation. All of the titles are offered in perpetuity meaning that you will have access to these titles through the e-books for FE licence through to 31st August 2014, after this date, e-books within the collection will be available after this date but an access fee may apply. Alternatively colleges will be able to request an archive of the full text of the book title(s) purchased, without further charge. The archive will be supplied to colleges in an electronic medium mutually agreed between the ebrary and JISC Collections. Continuing archival access and use will be subject to the terms and conditions of the e-books for FE Sub-Licence Agreement. The deadline for feedback on the e-select framework titles is the 20th of November 2009.
Why are the textbooks I need unavailable electronically?
Additional titles for e-books for FE project
The e-Books for FE project has got off to an excellent start and 362 colleges have signed up to access the 3,000 e-books currently available. In view of this success, JISC has provided funding for JISC Collections to procure additional e-textbooks to extend the range of subjects and levels covered.
As with the main collection, the additional e-books will be freely available to staff and students at all FE colleges in the UK via the ebrary platform. An Invitation to Tender has been issued via OJEU (OJEU reference number: 2009/S 176-253983) and the deadline for responses is 2 November 2009. In November, following the first round of evaluation, JISC Collections will host focus groups across the UK and ask colleges to submit their preferences for titles.
How were the e-books in the collection chosen?
An invitation to tender for the e-books for FE Project was issued through OJEU reference 2008/S 192-253910, and we received bids from leading e-book aggregators.
The bids were marked by an expert panel including a technical advisory group, and to eliminate bids which did not meet licensing or technical standards and to decide which bids should proceed to the second phase, the Community Consultation. More about the marking process..
JISC Collections would like to thank everyone who responded to the consultation on shortlisted titles. There was a phenomenal response and, in just 3 weeks, over 80,000 votes were cast.
The results of the Community Consultation were analysed to ascertain which bidder had the highest proportion of highly ranked books. Due to the volume of responses, JISC Collections was able to use this information, to acquire the highest ranked e-books without manipulation. If the titles were not ranked in the consultation then they are not included
The e-books are available for 5 years from May 2009 via the ebrary platform. Access to the platform and e-books will be free of charge to FE institutions. The c.3000 e-books within the Core Collection should never be ‘out of stock’ as they will be available under unlimited, simultaneous user access.